ABSTRACT
Research shows that second language vocabulary acquisition improves when paired with iconic gestures. This study applies an observation from signed languages, in which there is the option to use iconic handling or instrument strategies. Handling gestures are representative of actions, while instrument gestures are representative of objects. We investigate the effects of handling and instrument gestures on second language vocabulary acquisition. The results suggest that as participants learn more new words; they remember more nouns than verbs. Nouns paired with instrumental gestures were remembered better than verbs paired with instrumental gestures. Contrary to prediction, verbs paired with handling gestures were not remembered more than nouns paired with handling gestures.
